Tuesday, May 28, 2013

The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino

At first glance, it seems that this novel follows a well-worn story line, in which a wife, Yasuko, murders her abusive ex-husband, in this case with the help of her daughter, and then the neighbor, Ishigami, overhearing what happens, steps in to help dispose of the body. Yasuko is simply trying to live an honest life with her daughter. The neighbor, a math teacher in a nearby school, has a secret crush on Yasuko.  All three are then bound together to try to conceal their involvement in the murder from the authorities. Maybe ho-hum?
But then it gets really good. Ishigami is not a typical school teacher; he is a genius whose focus is on saving the woman he loves.  Somehow, he disposes of the body, plants doubts in the minds of the police, creates alibis, and as a result, he retrospectively turns an unplanned murder into the perfect crime.
The persistence of the police and their constant questioning of the events lead to the gradual unveiling of misinformation and false trails, all of which are directed by Ishigami. In the end, it is only the persistence of physics genius, Manubu Yukawa, an old friend of Ishigami whom he hasn't seen in 20 years, that forces Ishigami into playing his final hand. 
The Devotion of Suspect X is well plotted, and for once I was completely caught out by the unfolding of the plot towards the end, and the disturbing and unforeseen lengths that Ishigami has gone to, to protect his great love.
Initially, it was a bit difficult because it entailed understanding a society with different mores while following the story and the characters' actions. I soon was able to comprehend many of the actions and enjoy experiencing a different playing field. It definitely was well worth it and I truly enjoyed the mental games of the players.

CAS

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

The End of Everything by Megan Abbott

Set in an upper Midwest suburb in the mid-1980s, Lizzie is a 13-year-old living with her brother and recently divorced mother. Her best friend is 13-year-old Evie, with whom she believes she shares every thought and secret as only pre-pubescent girls can. Evie lives across the street in the charmed Verver house with her sister Dusty, who's "a deeply glamorous seventeen" in Lizzie's eyes.

When Evie suddenly goes missing, all eyes turn to Lizzie as her best friend and confidant. But Lizzie has no answers and as time passes, realizes she didn’t know her best friend as well as she thought. Soon, she’s reviewing many of her thoughts, feelings, and assumptions as well. The End of Everything is both a thriller and a roman á clef. 
Abbott’s book was well-told and presented believable characters and scenarios. I was totally engaged.

CAS

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

 Annie O’Sullivan is a real estate broker on Vancouver Island, British Columbia when she is abducted by David posing as a client. We know immediately that she survived months of captivity in a remote mountain cabin and was finally able to escape. The story is told primarily between flashbacks and therapy sessions with her psychiatrist.
What we, and Annie, come to realize is that there is much more to the story than a (pardon me) simple abduction and hostage-taking. There are layers beneath the surface involving her past, familial, social, and romantic relationships.
The story is gritty, creepy, and very unsettling in its unfolding. I listened to it and am not sure which would be more disturbing – print or audio. I know I had to take breaks from listening when it became too intense. The narration sometimes was too good.
I’m no prude, but I felt use of expletives was gratuitous – especially two with 4 letters starting with “s” and “f.” They ultimately created a second line of awareness that distracted from the narrative.
Gripping and disturbing, Still Missing is a debut novel by an author worth watching.    

CAS

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Cast On Kill Off by Maggie Sefton

Cast On, Kill Off is a simple cozy set in a simple small town. The characters are all young professionals that often meet in a knitting shop to catch up and gossip. The mysteries in this simple series always involve one of the "group". The main character, Kelly Flynn, is an accountant and a fairly recent transplant to the simple, small town of Fort Collins, Colorado. She lives in a simple cottage that she inherited from her aunt that happens to be right across from the knitting shop. She also happens to be a simple amateur sleuth.

Cast on, Kill Off is the 10th in this simple series. This time, Kelly's friend Megan is about to get married. When the seamstress who is making all of the dresses is suddenly (and simply) murdered, everyone at the knitting shop is stunned. Who could do this? Perhaps her abusive husband? Or her former boss who is now her competition?

Since the police must be simple-minded, Kelly decides to try and find the killer herself. With the help of former policeman, Pete, who now spins for a simple living, can they solve this simple mystery?

Simply find out by reading Maggie Sefton's newest entry.

Karen

Read-alike authors:  Anne Canadeo, Monica Ferris

Monday, May 13, 2013

A Story of God and All of Us by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett



The married team of Downey and Burnett have starred in and produced some of modern television's most memorable shows, most recently the miniseries "The Bible."  Working from the screenplay, they created  A Story of God and All of Us, a novelization that captures the drama of the series.  The reader feels like he is listening to a  master storyteller relaying the narratives of the culture's great heroes.  There are ten parts to the book, which correlate with the ten episodes of the series.  Although both  proclaim that they are telling the story of the Bible, they overlook significant portions of it, especially Ruth and Jonah, and they focus more on the Old Testament than on the New Testament.  They also offer new interpretations of many stories (such as the Ninja angels of Sodom) that allow the reader to look at them in new ways.  Nevertheless, the final product flows well and is riveting reading that will inspire Christians and introduce the Bible to many others.

Dawn

If you enjoy this book, you will enjoy The Jesus Chronicles by Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye

Six Years by Harlan Coben

We happened to both be reading this book at the same exact time, even finishing it within hours of each other. One of us read it, and one of us listened to it. In both formats, we felt that Six Years was one of his best.

Jake Fisher has just lost the love of his life, Natalie., No, she did not die. She just abruptly ended their relationship to marry someone else. Jake is crushed, and decides to attend the wedding to see for himself if this is really true. It is. Just after the ceremony, Natalie & Jake come face to face. And all Natalie can say to Jake is "promise to leave us alone." Jake reluctantly agrees, and goes on with his life.

Until six years later...

Cannot say much more without a spoiler alert. Let's just say, if you're a fan of his now, you'll be a bigger fan after this.

Carrie & Karen

Read alike: Trust Your Eyes by Linwood Barclay, because of similar twists and turns throughout the story.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Moon Over Edisto by Beth Webb Hart

Moon Over Edisto is a quiet southern story about a very dysfunctional family. Years earlier, Julia Bennett's father leaves his family for a younger woman. Now, you've heard this story before, I'm sure. But there's a twist in this novel - the younger woman he leaves her for is none other than Julia's best friend and college roommate, Marney. Obviously, both Julia, her sister Meg and their mother Mary Ellen are devastated.

But life goes on. Meg marries her childhood sweetheart, Mary Ellen moves into the family's Charleston home and gets a job in an antique store, and Julia, well, she becomes an artist and becomes engaged herself. Marney and her father go on to have 3 children and stay in the cottage on Edisto Island, and if all is not well, at least it is quiet. Even when the two sisters and their mother find out that Mr. Bennett has died unexpectedly, they still go on.

But one evening, Marney shows up at Julia's apartment with a favor to ask. A huge favor. A favor that will forever change Julia's life, as well as her sister's and mother's.

Very well done with great characters and an attention to detail, this is a good read for those who like a family saga that is more on the gentle side.

Karen

Read alike author: Dorothea Benton Frank

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Things I Want to Punch in the Face by Jennifer Worick



What things in life really drive you crazy? In Things I Want to Punch in the Face, Jennifer Worick lists 102 things that rub her the wrong way. Worick is bothered by things like SkyMall, windsocks, Black Friday, navel lint, and talking about yourself in the third person. Each item is given a “punch rating” to show you how aggravated Worick is. I didn’t completely agree with her on everything, but I did laugh throughout. Her writing is very frank, to the point, and she doesn’t sugarcoat anything. If you need some comic relief, try Things I Want to Punch in the Face by Jennifer Worick.


Carrie

Monday, May 6, 2013

Sidney Sheldon's The Tides of Memory by Tilly Bagshawe

The Tides of Memory has all of the elements that you would expect: sex, secrets, lies, and political intrigue. But it is anything but predictable.

Alexia DeVere has recently been named Home Secretary, a huge coup in British Parliament. But Alexia has some formidable enemies; enemies that will do anything to see her fail. Normally she would thrive on this, but now it is getting scary. Someone is looking for some dirt, and Alexia knows that she has a lot to lose if her secrets come out.  And she has plenty of those...

In typical Sidney Sheldon form, the story line goes around and around across two continents with many, many players. This is one novel you will be glad you put the time and effort into.

Karen

Readalike author: Jeffrey Archer

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Who I Am by Pete Townshend

As more rock stars from the sixties reach their sixties or even their seventies, many of them are releasing autobiographies covering their careers and, with the case of Pete Townshend’s Who I Am, their private lives as well.

Townshend is best known as the guitar smashing, windmilling, songwriter for The Who. Initially he does a good job giving his take on the band’s storied career. There have been plenty of books written about The Who and Townshend has been more than willing to grant interviews over the years, but this is the first time he has told his side of the story from the beginning up almost until the present. Townshend spends a lot of time on his childhood and The Who’s early days as well as the making of Tommy and The Who’s follow-up project Lifehouse, which was never completed but did result in the album Who’s Next.

Later on the book feels rushed. I wasn’t happy with Townshend’s quick discussion of later works such as The Who By Numbers or his solo album Empty Glass. I also grew tired of reading about his constant affairs, including an attempt to woo actress Theresa Russell in the late seventies. This philandering continued for years and he and his wife Karen did finally divorce, but I would have preferred to read more about The Who and Townshend’s solo work and less about his penchant for cheating. Ultimately, Who I Am does read like an honest, at times perhaps too honest, life story but even at 500 plus pages he can’t adequately cover his childhood and his almost fifty year career in music with and without The Who. It would have been nice if he had written a longer biography and released it in two or three volumes.  At the same time he has been working on Who I Am since the mid nineties, so I suppose Who fans should just be thankful that he finally put it out.

John